Rabbinic And Christian Models Of Interaction On The Song Of Songs

10.1163/ej.9789004171503.i-626.23

Brill’s MyBook program is exclusively available on
BrillOnline Books and Journals. Students and scholars affiliated with an
institution that has purchased a Brill E-Book on the BrillOnline platform
automatically have access to the MyBook option for the title(s) acquired by the
Library. Brill MyBook is a print-on-demand paperback copy which is sold at a
favorably uniform low price.

Chapter Summary

This chapter shows how Origens multilayered interpretation to the Song of Songs can offer new insights regarding the diversity and richness of the rabbinic exegesis of the book. It also shows how Origens work on the Song of Songs can be instrumental in the study of the redaction of ShirR from two perspectives: (i) by analyzing Origens three levels of interpretation to the Song of Songs, and searching for similar levels in the rabbinic exegesis; (ii) by referring to the differences between Origens two compositions and comparing their underlying reasons to those of the redactor of ShirR. The chapter finally shows the traces of a rich variety of interpretations to the Song of Songs given by R. Johanan and suggested that he, too, had a threefold sense of the Scripture: literal, allegorical, and mystical. This opens the way to new considerations regarding organization and sequence, methods, and levels of comprehension.